Team Europe getting respect, still has work to do

TORONTO --Keep calm and carry on.
Suddenly successful Team Europe has borrowed the slogan for the World Cup of Hockey 2016, holding an optional skate Tuesday and choosing to preserve energy in advance of its final preliminary-round game against Team Canada at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, TVA Sports).

Team Europe (2-0-0) clinched a berth in the semifinals when Team USA lost to Team Canada 4-2 on Tuesday. Team Europe and Team Canada (2-0-0) will decide first place in Group A in their game.
"I'm not really surprised," Team Europe defenseman Christian Ehrhoff said Tuesday about the calm locker room, even after a 3-2 overtime victory against Team Czech Republic on Monday. "It's still early in the tournament and we still have a lot of work ahead of us. We have a big challenge ahead of us tomorrow and I think the guys just want to keep their focus. It's not like we've reached anything yet."

Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger said his locker room was maturely quiet after the important win Monday.
"There was a lot of satisfaction," Krueger said. "If you go back and look at the eight countries (that make up Team Europe) combined having 11 wins and 58 losses against the Czech Republic in the last 24 years. There was something special in that game alone for the European side of it, which isn't really news over here but that was a deep satisfaction to get that win against the Czechs."
Eight players (Ehrhoff, Luca Sbisa, Nino Niederreiter, Tobias Rieder, Mikkel Boedker, Thomas Vanek, Philipp Grubauer and Thomas Greiss) skated Tuesday for about 30 minutes at MasterCard Centre.
"We're extremely focused on getting ready for Canada," Krueger said. "We took today off as a voluntary skate because of the energy these players needed before they even started this tournament."
For most players, the day away from the rink will also help keep the buzz down, Krueger said.
"I'm really pleased the players are getting the respect they deserve," he said. "The hype is something they're all used to around their NHL experience and their international experience. When they go to their countries, each and every one of them is surrounded by their local media from the beginning of the World Championship from start to end.
"That it's increased is just a compliment to the players who are doing some good things here, that people have noticed that we are a serious contender, that we don't find this as surprising as everybody else.
"We need to keep (the buzz) out of our room. We need to keep it simple, as it's been. That's my job as the coach. We came here to play nine periods competitively. For us, it's continue to finish this round properly. We're trying to keep the picture small with the players, to not get caught up with the noise that's starting to revolve around the team."

That, and controlling nerves, will be increasingly difficult as the Wednesday game draws near.
"I think it's more an excitement," Niederreiter said Tuesday. "The building's going to be very loud tomorrow night and they are the favorite in the tournament. Playing Canada in Toronto, it's going to be a fun experience, but at the same time we have to make sure we focus on us and do all the little things right."
Niederreiter said the requirements for success are simple.
"They're probably the favorite in the tournament and all the pressure's going to be on them," he said. "At the same time, we've won two in a row and we have to make sure we keep focused and see ourselves still as the underdog. I feel like we still are and we have to focus on the little details and defend solidly, then everything else will happen."
Ehrhoff, 34, who played for Team Germany in the 2004 World Cup, said preparation will be key against Team Canada.
"They've proved that they are a great team," he said. "Obviously they've played together in some kind of ways before, being Olympic champions. You don't really have to say much about them. We know it's going to be a tough challenge and we have to be mentally and physically ready.
"For us, we need a good defensive game again and try to get our own end clean like we did against the U.S., then let our creativity and skill up front take care of the goal scoring."

Krueger, who was born in Winnipeg, said his preparation to face Team Canada will be strictly clinical, even though he has strong ties to the opponent. He was a consultant to Canada and coach Mike Babcock for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, when it won gold.
"One hundred percent just looking at what Canada's doing to set ourselves [up] for a chance to play well against them tomorrow," Krueger said. "To go up against Mike tomorrow will be a lot of fun. We communicated so much in that year around Sochi and I know a lot of what's going on inside that room. It's difficult to beat and break that, but we will try.
"Again, [Team] Canada is by far the strongest team here, without a doubt. You need a perfect day, you have to be extremely patient to have a chance."